Daniel 3:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

NIV: King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

NASB: Nebuchadnezzar the king made a statue of gold, the height of which was sixty cubits, and its width six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

CSB: King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue, ninety feet high and nine feet wide. He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

NLT: King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

KJV: Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

NKJV: Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (Daniel 1:1–2), recently experienced a troubling dream (Daniel 2:1–3). Only Daniel, empowered by God, was able to untangle that mystery (Daniel 2:17–19, 27–28). Part of the dream included a statue with an enormous golden head (Daniel 2:32). This represented Nebuchadnezzar's rule over Babylon (Daniel 2:37–38). Though the king recognized the power of Daniel's God (Daniel 2:47), he did not abandon belief in other deities. Nor, it seems, did he restrain his pride.

The construction of a large golden idol, after being told the meaning of his dream, suggests Nebuchadnezzar's arrogance. Scripture does not indicate exactly when this happened. Some commentators believe this idol was built soon after the interpretation of the dream; others think it might have been as much as twenty years later. The "image" is not described except as being very tall and relatively slender. This may have been an obelisk-shaped monument, or a human figure with distorted proportions. Most likely, it was made of wood and overlaid with gold.

Scholars are unsure of the exact meaning of the "plain of Dura." The term "dura" may have been a generic word for flat areas surrounded by walls. Various pedestals, hills, mounds, and platforms in the region have been suggested as possible sites for the golden image. Certainly, it was meant to be as visible as possible.

Daniel 3:1–7 follows the incident where Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's frightening dream. It's possible that the king took pride in being depicted as a head of gold (Daniel 2:37–38), and so he makes a golden image of himself to be revered. The people of Babylon are commanded to worship this idol under threat of death: being burned alive. Repetition in the passage highlights the overbearing, controlling nature of the king's edict. This passage continues a segment of the Bible recorded in Aramaic (Daniel 2:4—7:28).

Nebuchadnezzar builds a golden idol, possibly inspired by the explanation of his own dream (Daniel 2:36–38). He commands all people to worship it, at a given musical signal, on pain of death. Three Hebrew men openly defy this command and are thrown into a superheated furnace. To his shock, the king sees a supernatural figure with the still-living Israelites. Not only do they survive, but their clothes aren't singed nor even smelling like smoke. The king praises their faith, and their God, commanding that no one speak ill of the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

The first chapter of Daniel explained how four captive Israelite boys became respected advisors to a Babylonian king. Chapter 2 showed these men praying for divine wisdom to untangle that same king's dream. These events set the stage for this chapter and the famous trio of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The men refuse to bow to an idol and are rescued from fiery death by God. This is the last mention of these men in Scripture, as focus shifts back to Babylon's kings and the prophet Daniel.

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.